It stayed scoreless and tight into the middle innings before both sides traded runs late — Washington scratched one across in the 4th and another in the 8th, but Toronto answered with runs in the 6th, 7th and a 3-spot in the 8th to pull away. A Nationals error didn't help matters in a game that came down to which bullpen held up better down the stretch.
Washington had won 4 of its last 5 coming in, including a wild 10-7 slugfest against Arizona, and had taken Tuesday's game off Toronto by drawing 6 walks in a 4-run first against Shane Bieber. Toronto, by contrast, had been streaky — a series opener win Monday sandwiched between losses — and still sits well under .500 at 49-59 even after Wednesday's win.
- Day-To-DayVladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B) — Guerrero (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Nationals.07/29
- 10-Day-ILLenyn Sosa (2B) — Sosa (wrist) will resume taking live batting practice this week, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/27
- 10-Day-ILJesus Sanchez (RF) — Sanchez (ankle) is on track to return from the 10-day injured list Friday against the Cardinals, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/27
- 10-Day-ILJonatan Clase (LF) — Clase (foot) isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.07/22
- bereavementBraydon Fisher (RP) — Fisher threw 1.1 innings as the opener and gave up one earned run on no hits and two walks in Wednesday's loss to the Rays. He struck out one.07/27
- 15-Day-ILPatrick Corbin (SP) — The Blue Jays placed Corbin on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left teres major strain.07/23
- 60-Day-ILJoe Mantiply (RP) — Mantiply (knee) has resumed throwing bullpen sessions, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/27
- 60-Day-ILYimi Garcia (RP) — Garcia (elbow/neck/biceps) has been pulled off his rehab assignment and will be examined by a doctor for possible thoracic outlet syndrome, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/27
- 60-Day-ILAddison Barger (RF) — Barger is expected to be sidelined six months following surgery Monday to repair his right elbow UCL, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/27
- 60-Day-ILAnthony Santander (RF) — Santander is still dealing with discomfort in his surgically repaired left shoulder and recently received another cortisone shot, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.07/17
- 60-Day-ILJose Berrios (SP) — Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Berrios underwent full Tommy John surgery Wednesday in addition to having a stress fracture repaired, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.05/27
- 60-Day-ILCody Ponce (SP) — Ponce underwent surgery Friday to repair the ACL in his right knee, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILBowden Francis (SP) — The Blue Jays placed Francis (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.05/08
- 10-Day-ILDrew Millas (C) — Milias went 1-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Red Sox.07/15
- 15-Day-ILBrad Lord (RP) — Lord (side) will throw a live batting practice session Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.07/24
- 15-Day-ILPJ Poulin (RP) — Poulin will serve as the opening pitcher in Saturday's game against the Yankees, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.07/19
- 60-Day-ILJake Irvin (SP) — Irvin (shoulder) struck out four and allowed one walk and no hits over 3.2 scoreless innings in a rehab start Friday with Double-A Harrisburg. He also hit a batter.07/29
- 60-Day-ILRichard Lovelady (RP) — Lovelady (triceps) began a throwing program shortly after landing on the injured list June 29 and had thrown off flat ground out to 60 feet as recently as July 3, MLB.com reports.07/19
- 60-Day-ILMitchell Parker (RP) — The Nationals transferred Parker (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Wednesday.07/02
- 60-Day-ILDJ Herz (SP) — Herz (elbow) was diagnosed Monday with a left flexor strain, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.06/22
- 60-Day-ILKen Waldichuk (RP) — Waldichuk (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure April 21 and is hopeful to return to game action at some point early in the 2027 season, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.06/11
- 60-Day-ILJosiah Gray (SP) — Gray (elbow) has resumed a throwing program, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.05/08
Both rotations are dealing with real scars beyond this one start — Toronto is still missing Jose Berrios, Bowden Francis and Cody Ponce for the year, while Washington's bullpen is stretched thin with Brad Lord and PJ Poulin both on the 15-day IL. Guerrero should be good to go once the off day hits, but this series was a small reminder of how thin the margins get in the AL East race when a middle-of-the-order bat sits.